New Visa Appointment System at US Embassy in Paris

The US Embassy in Paris has officially announced that it will be transitioning to a new visa appointment system on July 31, 2014. This US Embassy will be the latest to join the dozens of other US Embassies and Consulates worldwide that have already contracted outside companies to handle the logistics of various aspects of the consular process, including appointment scheduling and passport delivery, through call centers (as discussed in my post on scheduling visa appointments in London, Protima’s post about changes in Germany, and my AILA Athens Report post).

Exciting features of the new appointment system will allow applicants to pay the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee online by debit card or bank transfer, and for passports with visas and other documents to be returned to applicants by a courier service, able to be tracked online, at no cost to the applicant. No more trekking to La Poste to pay the MRV fee in-person by Mandat Compte or to purchase a pre-paid Chronopost envelope! These features promise to streamline the appointment process at the US Embassy in Paris once launched.

For the next nine days, until the new system launches, the US Embassy in Paris warns that “the new visa appointment system may cause some temporary delays[.]" After speaking to personnel on the visa appointment line this morning, we understand there is very limited availability for visa appointments between now and mid-August. Visa appointment dates for late August and September are not currently being offered, but will be made available at the time the new appointment system launches on July 31st. The US Embassy is encouraging applicants who do not have to travel by mid-August to wait until after July 31st to schedule their appointment, so they may use the new visa appointment system.

We are looking forward to using the new visa appointment system for the US Embassy in Paris; in particular, to the added efficiency it promises in the visa appointment process!

Taxi in Rain

On 8th Avenue and 16th Street in one of the intense but beautiful storms we've had this summer.

CNN: “Journalist Jose Vargas, symbol of immigration debate, detained at airport”

Jose Vargas, an award-winning journalist and prominent activist for undocumented immigrants, was detained this morning by US Customs and Border Protection at McAllen-Miller International Airport. Mr. Vargas was in McAllan, Texas (near the US/Mexican border) to report on the plight of undocumented immigrants (in particular, the surge of Central American children crossing the border, which we previously discussed) and he wrote he only become aware after traveling to the area that “for an undocumented immigrant like me, getting out of a border town in Texas—by plane or by land—won’t be easy. It might, in fact, be impossible.” His only documentation, he tweeted earlier this morning, was his Philippine passport and pocketbook US Constitution.

UPDATE: Mr. Vargas was released Tuesday evening with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. Department of Homeland Security officials said in a statement "they had released Mr. Vargas because he had no prior immigration or criminal record" and "their focus was on deporting immigrants who posed security threats."

Boat Dance 2014

Our annual summer Boat Dance party. Briana (wearing a Champagne Campaign sweatshirt) is asking if she can start dancing yet. Manny says wait until dark. Joseph and Carolyn are getting their hair ready. Everyone is having fun. Happy summer, everyone.

The Guardian: "White House seeks $3.7bn in extra funding to address child migrant crisis"

The White House is seeking $3.7 billion in additional funding in response to the nearly 52,000 children who have arrived at the southern US border since last October. The funds for this "urgent humanitarian situation" would be used for providing care for the unaccompanied children as they await detention (including detention alternatives such as ankle bracelets), speeding up cases through the system, expanding law enforcement collaboration, and foreign campaigns to address root causes of migration, including funds for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras to "support youth programs and develop skills and leadership among potential migrants."

It's not exactly clear how these "youth programs" will fare against brutal gangs and drug cartels who kill and/or threaten to kill--which this Daily Beast report cited as a cause of the migrant surge. In addition, interviews conducted by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees of over 400 of these migrant children from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico found that the "majority of the children were trying to escape violence and/or abuse in their home countries." Some disagree, however, arguing that President Obama's policies have contributed to the crisis on the border.

The White House is also seeking to change child anti-trafficking laws passed under George W. Bush (with bipartisan support) designed to protect at-risk and abused children. Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson Lee says: "'A massive deportation policy for children is not a humane thing to do.'"

Happy Birthday, Matt!

As the nation celebrates America's birthday, Matt Bray celebrates his with a muffin and bagels. And sunglasses indoors. Because he can do whatever he wants--it's his birthday.

"If We Won"

In time for the Fourth of July, actor and comedian Stephen Merchant has a very amusing advert imagining if the British had won the American Revolutionary War.

"Oh America, if we'd won the war you'd have better comedy, news, TV programs, and way better rude words."